EcoOil-La Salle cruised to a coast-to-coast 84-62 win over Centro Escolar University to open its title defense bid with flying colors in the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena.
All but one of the 15 Green Archers hit the scoring board, led by Kevin Quiambao with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in only 22 minutes of action.
Meanwhile, Evan Nelle orchestrated the show with three points, 14 assists, seven rebounds, and three steals in only 24 minutes.
Francis Escandor and Mark Nonoy scored 11 and 10 minutes, respectively.
La Salle’s 22-point victory sees them join first-game winner PSP in the early leaderboard of the seven-team D-League tourney.
“Actually, ‘di namin iniisip na it has to be that way, na parang we’re defending the championship. We’re trying to build something here, a different culture. Syempre, marami pang adjustments, but we’re glad that we’re able to play here para ma-address namin ‘yung kailangan,” said deputy mentor Gian Nazario.
Nazario took over from Robinson for now due to the latter’s United States trip for scouting purposes of overseas talents.
Without Robinson, the Green Archers still proved to be too much to handle. The intact unit of their last D-League championship run last season unleashed a 32-14 avalanche in the second period and never looked back.
At the break, La Salle was already miles ahead with a 49-24 lead that even ballooned to as many as 28 points down the stretch.
Jerome Santos paced the Scorpions, who came off a 14-0 championship sweep in the UCBL, with 15 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Ayodeji Victor Balogun and Ron Rei Tolentino also chipped in 12 markers apiece in the defeat.
The Scores:
EcoOil-La Salle 84 – Quiambao 21, Escandor 11, Nonoy 10, Alao 7, Cortez 6, Nwankwo 5, Manuel 5, Abadam 4, M. Phillips 4, Nelle 3, Austria 3, David 2, B. Phillips 2 Macalalag 1, M. Reyes 0.
CEU 62 – Santos 15, Tolentino 12, Balogun 12, Joson 7, Peñano 4, Diaz 3, Borromeo 2, Cabotaje 2, Puray 2, Bernabe 2, R. Reyes 1, Javier 0, Ferrer 0, Malicana 0, Anagbogu 0.
Quarterscores: 17-10, 49-24, 64-44, 84-62.
